Blues Academy Player Of The Past

James Lawson joined Blues’ Academy in 2004, he played for the U18s side for one season and was gifted his Southend debut on 1st January, when Blues hosted Rushden in League Two.

The following season Lawson was handed his first professional contract, and after two impressive performances at the start of the 2005/06 campaign he was handed his starting XI debut, which Lawson highlighted after scoring the opener against Oldham on 4th September, then two games later doing the exact same against Tranmere on 17th September.

Lawson then fell out of the starting line up towards the end of the season, which came to no suuprise with the likes of Freddy Eastwood, Matt Harold and Lee Bradbury all in front of him.

After Southend’s promotion to the Championship he featured less regulary, but he has an accolade to hold when he featured in the 2006/07 Southend squad that beat Manchester United in the Carling Cup.

Due to his lack of appearances he was sent out on loan to then League One side Bournemouth, and then to Dagenham & Redbridge, but he failed to score in both loan spells.

At the end of the 2006/07 season Lawson was released by the club and was scooped up by non -league side Grays Athletic.

He stayed with the Latics until January 2008 and moved to Chelmsford City and signed a one-year contract at the end of the season, but another unsuccessful season meant Lawson went in search of regular football and after two short stays with local sides Concord Rangers and Billericay he joined Maldon & Tiptree.

Lawson was released by Maldon & Tiptree at the end of the 2011/12 season and is currently a free agent.